Warsaw - A city renascent

Advantages: Fascinating history, clean, beautiful monuments, reasonable prices, vibrant
Disadvantages: Number of drunks

...=INTRODUCTION = Warsaw is the capital of Poland, in Central Europe. Poland has suffered from its neighbours throughout its history, and Warsaw is the classic symbol of this, having been reduced to a heap of rubble by the vengeful Nazis in 1944. Today it is the thriving capital of a member state of the European Union (Poland joined on 1 May 2004), a city of around 2m people on the banks of the Vistula river, benefiting from the transition from Communism to a market economy to such an extent that its GDP is 137% of the EU average (the average figure for the UK is 123% to give a benchmark). = MY VISIT IN SEPTEMBER 2007 = I must confess that my heart sank when I was told that the conference I was to attend would be moved from Krakow to Warsaw, owing to lack of sufficient suitable hotel space. I had twice been to...

lobourse 26.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Warsaw (Poland)

A Warm Welcome in Warsaw

Advantages: Clean, comfy and central
Disadvantages: The odd niggle

...Back in early March 2006 we were in Warsaw celebrating my birthday, and had booked in to the Radisson SAS Centrum Hotel. We had made the booking a month earlier after trawling through various websites, comparing Warsaw's four and five star hotels, their locations, facilities and, most importantly, their prices. We chose the Radisson for the following reasons; it was central, had a swimming pool, and breakfast was included in the price which, at £177 for three nights, was around half the price of the Marriott, which is reputed to be the best hotel in town. The Radisson is situated in Ul. Grzybowska just off Al. Jana Pawla II, one of the main North - South throughways through central Warsaw. It is a three minute walk from the nearest tram stop and around five minutes from the nearest Metro station, Swietokrzyska, which itself is...

Beaker66 14.03.2006 (23.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Radisson SAS Centrum Warsaw, Warsaw

Experience Warsaw

Advantages: Good looking, nice people, welcoming
Disadvantages: may have some language difficulties

...Warsaw is a city that has just been newly constructed after the wars. There are now newly constructed roads and buildings around the city and its very busy city. The attractiveness of the Old Town is the historical heritage of Poland where there is the old Palace. The many pubs and bars and hostels in the old town is just the place to live. I like the people of Poland very much and the young generation can speak some English now and so you don't need to worry about language. You will find monuments at almost every junction and the city is very clean with a good public transport system including trams, buses and the underground tube. There is also high security in this city that you can't be afraid of anything like doing business to just visiting. I like the town...

chopies26 21.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Warsaw (Poland)

Introducing... Warsaw Village Band ~ 'Uprooting'

Advantages: Exciting; unique; passionate; challenging
Disadvantages: Well, it's in Polish, so some may find that a disadvantage...

...In recent years, the little-known Warsaw Village Band have risen from obscurity to earn some much deserved recognition, playing several high-profile festivals including Glastonbury 09, and even clinching the Best Newcomer award at the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards in 2004. 'Uprooting' is a fine example of the band's capability, and also of their potential to grow and continue. Comprising six young musicians from Poland's capital, the band blend traditional Polish folk and instruments with modern influences, creating a passionate and hypnotising set of tracks which should be essential listening for any music fan. I had the honour of first hearing the band when they performed at Musicport Festival 2008, a very surreal experience indeed as they were supporting Rolf Harris! Their set consisted of many of the tracks from 'Uprooting...

littlewiggle 25.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Uprooting - Warsaw Village Band

Sheraton Warsaw Hotel and Towers, Warsaw

Advantages: very welcoming hotel
Disadvantages: maybe little costly

...Visiting Warsaw, Poland is just the best part in your life when you visiting the first time. The name sounds as the place. In my 5days visit to this incredible city, i lodged in the Sheraton Warsaw Hotel and Towers, Warsaw. The hotel is just what you can expect of a paradise on earth. Its big, with about 352 rooms and is close to the city center. The Hotel has a good restaurant, good staffs who are very welcoming and the customer service there is just so good. The first thing that came to my mind upon booking was whether i will cope there with the language but to my greatest surprise, it was the reverse. The customer service can handle you well with the language and you will never regret it. The prices range from £39.50 to £154.00 and i know it will be welcoming to anyone who want a peaceful and safe days in a foreign land. I recommend...

douglaf 18.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sheraton Warsaw Hotel and Towers, Warsaw

A place to Visit Warsaw, Poland

Advantages: Clean city, good historical heritage and monuments to see
Disadvantages: language

...I first arrived warsaw in august 2006 and 2 years later i was there again then i have something to tell. I arrived at the Frederic Tchopin International Airport where i made comparisons to the airport i saw 2years ago, there was now a European Standard newly built airport that's just few minutes away from the city center. This is quite a huge change. There are now newly constructed roads and buildings around the city and its very busy city. The attractiveness of the Old Town is the historical heritage of Poland where there is the old Palace. The many pubs and bars and hostels in the old town is just the place to live. I like the people of Poland very much and the young generation can speak some english now and so you don't need to worry about language. You will find monuments at almost every junction and the city is very clean...

bayere 11.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Warsaw (Poland)

Throwing Light on Poland's Dark Past

Advantages: Excellent value, informative and interesting
Disadvantages: Upsetting for a lot of people

...Date August 1st 2009 Location Apartment Block, Dzielna, Warsaw Time A Few minutes to 5pm Then what happened.........I decided to go for a walk with the dog to the local shops. Coming out of the apartment block, I closed the door and looked up. Two flags were flying. Red and white for Polska and yellow and red for Warsaw. As I walked through the garden maze which surrounds the apartment blocks, I noticed people standing on their balconies. Suddenly, I was aware of an eerie silence ......then the siren began wailing.........wailing. People hung their heads in silence for five minutes until the siren ended. Date August 1 1944 Location Warsaw Time 5pm Then what happened.................General 'Bor' Komorowski gave orders for the forces of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa) to take up arms against the Nazi's to claim...

Praski 02.08.2009 (03.08.2009) · Read review
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Review of Warsaw Uprising Museum

Lazienki - the jewel in Poland's crown

Advantages: Unique atmosphere, complex architecture, superb greenery
Disadvantages: None

...Anyone who still thinks that Warsaw is a city of concrete and cement has clearly never been to the city's prize possession, the incomparable Lazienki Park. This glorious 17th century park, spread over 74 hectares is one of the jewels in Poland's crown and which might explain why half of Warsaw chooses to spend it's Summer Sunday's here. With the park being so large it never gives the impression of being crowded, and even on the busiest days you will always be able to find a quiet, shady corner somewhere. Lazienki - meaning baths, takes its name from the Palace on the Water, originally built in the 17th century as a bath house. Bought by the last king of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski, in 1772, the baths were converted into a private residence and the grounds formally laid out as a private garden by Karol Schultz. Today dotted...

Praski 16.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lazienki Park, Warsaw

A little bit of Italy in the Polish capital

Advantages: Lovely decor, excellent food and good waiter service
Disadvantages: A little way out of the city

...Since I moved to Warsaw two years ago now, I realise that I haven't frequented many of its restaurants. In fact, I've been to 4 and reviewed 3. The other evening my husband came home and said that a friend of his had recommended a great Italian restaurant called Va Bene and did I fancy trying it out for lunch one day. I will never turn down an invitation to an Italian restaurant so I accepted. Only thing I had to choose was the location as there are three in Warsaw; Wola (where I live - why have I never noticed it?), Ursynow and Ochota. I chose Ursynow because it is in the nice part of town and I haven't been there for a while. Ursynow is what I would call a yuppie part of Warsaw and to reach this luxuriant suburb you need to take the Metro from the central station and get off at the Stoklosy stop which is 3 stops before the final stop...

Praski 26.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Va Bene Ristorante, Warsaw

A very comfortable hotel in a vibrant city

Advantages: Comfortable, well-appointed rooms, nice breakfast, free internet, good business facilities
Disadvantages: nothing major

...The Warsaw Sofitel Victoria is an upmarket business hotel in the heart of the capital of Poland in central Europe. Sofitel is the top of the range brand in the portfolio of the Accor Hotel Group, which also includes inter alia Novotel and Ibis. My visit here was for a two-day conference for work, the whole event being held in the excellent conference facilities of the hotel. Location - the hotel is situated just across the main road from the site of the old Saxon Palace in the centre of Warsaw, near the Opera House, 20 minutes walk from the Old Town Square, and 15 minutes from the landmark Palace of Culture. The building - the Sofitel Victoria is relatively low-rise compared to the other main hotels in the city, such as the Inter-Continental and Marriot. It has 7 floors, 341 rooms (11 of them suites) and is a square concrete...

lobourse 21.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sofitel Victoria Warsaw, Warsaw